Method and device for strip and flat-shaping machining surfaces of glass panes

Abstract

The removal of partial areas of a coating ( 11, 12 ) on at least one surface ( 37, 38 ) of a glass pane ( 2 ) takes place by means of a plasma jet ( 14, 15 ) which emerges from a plasma nozzle ( 5, 6 ). The plasma nozzle ( 5, 6 ) is part of a plasma unit and two such plasma units are provided. Both of the plasma nozzles ( 5, 6 ) are oriented towards each other and form a pair of nozzles. A glass pane ( 2 ) is machined between both of the nozzles ( 5, 6 ). A distance sensor ( 23, 24 ) is arranged on both of the nozzles ( 5, 6 ), and said nozzles ( 5, 6 ) are positioned at the correct distance in relation to the surface ( 37, 38 ) of the glass pane ( 2 ).

1. A method for treating glass surfaces in strips or areas, comprising the steps of
 providing a glass pane comprising two opposite broad side surfaces, the glass pane being at least partially coated with a coating; 
 placing the glass pane in a working and displacement facility; 
 arranging at least one pair of plasma nozzles so that the outlet openings for a plasma jet are directed toward one another and simultaneously toward one of the opposite broad side surfaces of the glass pane; 
 moving the pair of plasma nozzles and the surface of the glass pane relative to one another; 
 generating a plasma jet by at least one plasma nozzle of the pair of plasma nozzles directing the plasma jet toward the coated surface region of the glass plane, thereby at least partially removing the coating by means of the plasma jet and activating the glass surface; 
 detecting, during the movement of the glass pane and of the nozzle pair relative to one another, variations of the position of the broad side surfaces of the glass pane in the region between the plasma nozzles, the pair of plasma nozzles each being displaced at approximately right angles to the glass pane in the direction of the position variation of the glass pane surfaces; 
 wherein the two nozzles of the pair of plasma nozzles are controlled and operated jointly, so that the plasma jet is generated optionally from one of the two nozzles of the nozzle pair or from both nozzles simultaneously. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a displacement of the pair of plasma nozzles relative to said glass pane only takes place if the variation of a position of the broad side surfaces of the glass pane relative to the nozzle outlets exceeds a predetermined permissible displacement value. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein, the predetermined permissible displacement value of the position of the glass pane is determined from a difference between a maximally permissible working distance between a front face of the respective plasma nozzle and the pane surface and a minimally permissible working distance between the front face of the plasma nozzle and the pane surface. 
     
     
       4. A method for treating glass surfaces in strips or areas, comprising the steps of
 providing a glass pane comprising two opposite broad side surfaces, the glass pane being at least partially coated with a coating; 
 placing the glass pane in a working and displacement facility; 
 arranging at least one pair of plasma nozzles so that the outlet openings for a plasma jet are directed toward one another and simultaneously toward one of the opposite broad side surfaces of the glass pane; 
 moving the pair of plasma nozzles and the surface of the glass pane relative to one another; 
 generating a plasma jet by at least one plasma nozzle of the pair of plasma nozzles directing the plasma jet toward the coated surface region of the glass plane, thereby at least partially removing the coating by means of the plasma jet and activating the glass surface; 
 wherein the two nozzles of the pair of plasma nozzles are controlled and operated jointly, so that the plasma jet is generated optionally from one of the two nozzles of the nozzle pair or from both nozzles simultaneously; and 
 wherein the step of moving the pair of plasma nozzles and the surface of the glass pane relative to one another comprises rotating each plasma nozzle around a rotation axis, the outlet openings being displaced with respect to the rotation axis. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of moving the pair of plasma nozzles and the surface of the glass pane relative to one another further comprises conveying the glass pane between the pair of rotating plasma nozzles. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising determining a minimal offset between the front face of each plasma nozzle and the surface of the glass pane by a distance sensor. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the distance sensor is located in a proximity of the rotational axis. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two plasma nozzles of the pair are oriented on a common axis and are disposed at a selected distance with respect to one another on the common axis.